From: Prowrestling.net

WWE is advertising the following matches for Friday's Smackdown show on MyNetwork TV.

-WWE Champion Triple H vs. World Hvt. Champion Chris Jericho vs. ECW Champion Matt Hardy in a Triple Threat Match.

-Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella vs. U.S. Champion Shelton Benjamin.

-WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool vs. WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix.

-WWE Tag Champions Carlito and Primo vs. World Tag Champions Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase.

-Kane and MVP and JBL and The Brian Kendrick vs. Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio and Batista and Finlay in an "all-star eight-man tag match."

Labels: chris jericho, mynetworktv, shelton benjamin, smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

From: PWMania.com

WWE and MyNetworkTV will officially kick off their relationship on Thursday, October 2nd at 8pm with the first-ever broadcast presentation of WrestleMania XXIV. The very next night on Friday, October 3rd WWE SmackDown will premiere on its new home at 8pm. This will be the first-ever broadcast television debut of WrestleMania. MyNetworkTV President Gary Meidel expressed his excitement for WWE’s debut on the network, saying “These side-by-side primetime events are sure to deliver two nights of edge-of-your-seat, action-packed entertainment.” Vince McMahon added, “What better way to introduce MyNetworkTV viewers to the WWE brand than to schedule our first-ever broadcast television debut of WrestleMania.”

Labels: mynetworktv, wrestlemania 24

Posted by Matt Loede at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments

From: PWInisder.com

WWE's mulling over the possibility of running Smackdown live on some days has been talked about for a while. One company source told me it's at least part of the reason that they have postponed moving the ECW tapings to Monday nights. Originally, that was supposed to happen by August or so but it has been pushed back. Also, WWE hasn't announced any dates for Smackdown TV tapings for October yet, which is pretty interesting since they will start on MyNetworkTV on October 3.

The bone of contention that Kevin Dunn has had for years with running Smackdown live is that it would extend the work week of his production team since they would have to spend an extra two days on the road most of the time, and at least one extra day on PPV weekends. From what I have been told, Dunn has not given up that objection but the flip side is that WWE really needs the deal with MNTV to work because the only other serious bidder on the Smackdown property when CW dropped it was WGN and that has nowhere near the viewer penetration. It's imperative for WWE to make the new deal work or they could be faced with far more limited exposure for Smackdown.

As best as I can tell, this whole situation is only in the talking stage right now.

Labels: mynetworktv, smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 8:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

The decision to move Triple H to SmackDown was actually made back around the time the deal with MyNetworkTV was reached. The network knew from the start that they would be marketing the show around The Undertaker and Triple H as the two biggest stars.

Right after WWE's European tour after WrestleMania, The Undertaker, Edge, Vickie Guerrero and Triple H were brought in to the studio to tape promos for MyNetworkTV. Triple H's promo had him spitting water into the camera saying, "You're watching Friday Night SmackDown right here on MyNetwork TV." The fact that Batista wasn't there for the promos shows that the decision was made that far back.

Labels: mynetworktv, triple h, undertaker

Posted by Matt Loede at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

From: Wrestling Observer

MyNetworkTV today officially announced Smackdown would air on Friday nights this coming season. There had been consideration of a move back to Thursday. I have no clue why they would take what will be their most popular show, and put it on their second weakest night.

Labels: mynetworktv, smackdown, wrestling observer

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments

From: Wrestling Observer

WWE announced today that MyNetworkTV would be the new home for Smackdown starting in September.

In a joint announcement by Vince McMahon and MyNetwork President Greg Miedel, they announced the partnership. No terms were publicly announced for the deal, nor was a night of the week for the show announced, other than the show would stay in its two-hour format.

MyNetworkTV and WGN were the only two networks to show major interest in a product that would significantly boost ratings for all but the major broadcast network stations. Due to significantly more clearances, MyNetworkTV was clearly the best option for WWE.

Labels: mynetworktv, smackdown

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments